Child seatbelt release restriction mechanism

ABSTRACT

A seat belt buckle safety housing encompassing the female end of a seatbelt to prevent a child from pushing the release button and thereby becoming a safety issue within a vehicle. Specifically, the invention has a sliding locking device on the lid that when slid opened and pulled, reveals the release button for the seat belt. Likewise, when closed, the lid protects the seat belt release button and prevents a child from removing the safety belt. The housing cover is designed with a pen type hinge that prevents a young child from pulling open the cover due to the pound per inch force and sliding locking mechanism. The device comes in two sections with the front attaching to the remaining three-sides through the use of tension screws.

FIELD OF SEARCH

24/633,573.1,636,637,638,639,640,641,642

References Cited [Referenced By] U.S. Patent Documents 1384001 July 1921 Splittstoesser 3789467 February 1974 Aratani et al. 4321734 March 1982 Gandelman 4575908 March 1986 Gloomis et al. 4624033 November 1986 Orton 4675956 June 1987 Cohen 4937923 July 1990 McEntire 5184376 February 1993 Hunter et al. 5442840 August 1995 Ewald 5907892 June 1999 Todd 6694578 February 2004 Nicoll

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for preventing young children from simply pushing the seatbelt release button, allowing the child to become a safety issue within a vehicle. Current designs are based on the older style of seatbelt apparatus and this present invention is designed with current manufacturing seatbelt devices in mind. Additionally, the new invention is designed primarily as an after-market device although manufacturers could install the device at the onset.

Automotive seatbelt devices have a basic male and female operation. When the male device is inserted into the female device, the seatbelt is designed as a restrictor and safety device. The new invention does not alter this design or concept and instead prevents access to the release button found on the female part of the seatbelt while allowing a more mature person easy and convenient access and operation of the release button.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Children in general are inquisitive and learn quickly through demonstration. It does not take long for a child to observe and understand how simply pushing the seatbelt release button allows freedom from the restraint and can also be a source of entertainment for the child. It is therefore desirable to have a child's seat belt buckle locking mechanism that would prevent the child's access to the seatbelt release button while giving an adult quick and easy access.

The use of different seatbelt locking mechanisms is known in the prior art. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,892, Todd discloses a child safety apparatus for a seat belt buckle that has a sliding locking mechanism on the female portion of the seatbelt that when activated, prevents the seatbelt's main release button from being released. This locking mechanism is designed for manufacturing and installation in new vehicles and not after market. Although the Todd '892 patent has a similar function, the new invention differs in that it covers the existing release button all together and can placed over the existing female portion of the existing seatbelt.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,908 to Gloomis et al. is also a device for manufacturing and installation in new vehicles and not after market. The Gloomis device has a sliding mechanism on the under carriage of the invention, when activated pushes a device forward inside the seatbelt invention to prevent depressing the release button. The new invention is different in that it is does not involve redesigning the inner working of the seatbelt. Further, the prevention mechanism is located on the top and not the undercarriage as in the Gloomis invention. Additionally, in the new invention a cover prevents the button from being activated instead of a device under the button that prevents the button from moving. The Gloomis invention is also designed for the old style of seatbelt release buttons (square device with a large square button inset) instead of the current seatbelt designs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,376, Hunter et al. involves a child-resistant safety belt buckle that requires a combination lock mechanism to be activated in conjunction with a spring-loaded rotatable or pushbutton member mounted on the top skirt of the buckle that prevents the release of the belt mechanism. The new invention differs in that there is no combination locking mechanism or requirement for a rotatable device. Further, the new invention is much more user friendly as it does not require a one or two tumbler combination mechanism to be activated while rotation is required.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,840 to Ewald, involves a sheath type housing that slides over the buckle to prevent a child from pressing the belt's main release button. The Ewald invention is designed for the old style of seatbelt release buttons (square device with a large square button inset) instead of the current seatbelt designs. The Ewald invention simply slides over the buckle. The new invention differs as it is a two-part housing that is coupled together with screws and has a cover that can be raised and lowered via a hinge to protect the release button. The new invention is based on the current automobile manufacturer's designs instead of the previous mechanisms.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,578 to Nicoll involves both the male and female mechanisms of a seatbelt and is designed for new manufacture of vehicles and not after market. Although similar in objective, the new invention does not require both the male and female mechanisms or the intricate locating system in the Nicoll design.

The above-mentioned inventions appear to complete the objectives of the designs. However, most are based on the old automobile manufacturer's designs of a large square device with a large square button inset. Further, most are designed for installation at the manufacturing of the vehicle and not as an after-market device that can easily be retrofitted by a non-mechanical type person.

A need exists for a new and improved seatbelt buckle safety device that can be easily adapted to current vehicles and if desired by manufacturers, at the time of new vehicle construction. The new device takes into account a device that can be easily operated by an adult with one or two hands while blocking the seatbelt release button from a child. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this safety and design need while substantially departing from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves utilizing a two-part device that can easily be attached over the female portion of the seatbelt to prevent access to the release button. The installed device, provides a sliding locking mechanism that when pulled, will release the cover and provide easy access to the seatbelt button. The housing cover is designed with a pen type hinge that prevents a young child from pulling open the cover due to the pound per inch force and sliding locking device. Due to the extreme heat inside a closed vehicle during summer days, the housing is designed to withstand varying degrees of weather while remaining resilient and operational. The pull-open cover is designed with child safety in mind as well as convenience of application. The invention can easily be operated with one hand or with two based on the operator's desire.

The enclosed is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further modifications and changes may occur. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the detailed description that follows.

FIG. 1: View of the exterior of the mechanism with the cover closed. The front (1) of the mechanism housing that encompasses the top cover (2) where the latch (5) is contained. Screws (4) that attach the front (1) of the mechanism to the back (3) part of the device. The front of the mechanism comprises an inverted “L” shape. The back of the mechanism comprises three sides (back and two sides). The female portion of the seatbelt is encompassed by both sections.

FIG. 2: A side view of the front (1) of the inverted “L” shape mechanism showing the screw holes (2) and the hinge (3) for the cover (4). A view of the side (5) of the second part of the mechanism.

FIG. 3: The male section (1) of the seatbelt (not part of the invention) that is inserted into the mechanism (2) without being obscured by the device. The seatbelt release button (3) on the top of the female section (5) of the pre-existing seatbelt device. The dotted line (4) demonstrating the closed cover mechanism preventing access to the release button (3). A view of the entire mechanism (6) encompassing the female portion of a seatbelt device.

FIG. 4: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with the pre-existing seatbelt release button (2) on the female seatbelt device. The mechanism's cover (4) in an open position. The pre-existing insertion location for the male part of a seatbelt.

FIG. 5: A view of the top section (1) of the mechanism with the cover (3) closed preventing access to the seatbelt release button. The sliding locking and/or unlocking latch (4) that is gripped to open and close the mechanism's cover. The area (2) where the male portion of the seatbelt is inserted showing the cover (3) of the mechanism stopping before it obstructs the location where the male part (2) of a seatbelt is inserted.

FIG. 6: The pre-existing female (1) seatbelt device (dotted line area) with the three-sided back (2) of the mechanism. When (2) is attached to the front (3) of the mechanism, the invention encompasses the female seatbelt device. 

1) A seat belt button release restriction mechanism comprising a front section that fits on one side of the female part of a seat belt and is compressed against the seat belt to hold it in place by screws that draw it against the back portion of the device. The seat belt release is “sandwiched” and encompassed in this mechanism. The mechanism forms a type of housing surrounding the female portion of the seat belt device while still allowing for the insertion of the male portion of the seat belt device. A cover (or lid) with a spring-action latch can be opened and shut to give access to or deny access to the seat belt release button. 2) The mechanism of claim 1, said front section is formed in an inverted “L” shape with the top having a cover (or lid) on a hinge that can be raised and lowered to give access to or prevent access to the seat belt release button. 3) The mechanism of claim 1, said cover (or lid) has a sliding spring-action latch that when pulled, allows the cover to be raised to expose the seat belt release button. Additionally this same cover can be lowered and locked in place by the spring-action latch to prevent access to the seat belt release button. 4) The mechanism of claim 1, the housing, is fabricated out of hard plastic. 5) The mechanism of claim 1, the hinge, is fabricated out of metal. 6) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is fabricated out of hard plastic. 7) The mechanism of claim 1, the spring-action latch, is fabricated out of metal with a hard plastic finger grip attached. 8) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two fingers while pulling the cover open to expose the seat belt release button. 9) The spring-action latch is simultaneously pushed inward with two fingers while pushing the cover closed to prevent access to the seat belt release button. 10) The mechanism of claim 1, the cover, is designed and shaped with a small gap between the cover and the edge of the device to allow the male portion of the seat belt to still be inserted into the female portion of the seat belt. 